A Technical Machine, or TM for short (Japanese: わざマシンMove Machine), is an item that, like an HM, is used to teach a Pokémon a new move that it might not learn otherwise. Prior to Generation V, TMs were single-use items, unlike Hidden Machines, which can be used over and over again on many different Pokémon. TMs can be found on the ground or bought at department stores or game Corners. Some are also given away by Gym Leaders as prizes for defeating them in addition to a Badge. Silph Co. has distributed a pamphlet containing information on TMs and HMs, indicating they are, at least partially, developed or produced by the company.

Prior to Generation VI, TM moves will also be passed down through breeding if the baby Pokémon can learn that TM (such as passing Flamethrower from a father Typhlosion to a baby Torchic). Prior to Generation V, there were also several Pokémon that could not learn certain TM moves directly from a TM but could learn them via breeding, such as Vulpix with Energy Ball.

The depiction of TMs has changed over time. In the TCG, they are shown as small boxes that the Poké Ball would be inserted into, but from FireRed and LeafGreen onwards, they have been depicted as compact discs that are inserted into the TM Case and the case itself teaches the Pokémon the move. In Pokémon Origins, TMs and HMs resemble floppy disks, but how they work is never shown.

Generation II

Generation II introduced several new TMs, a majority of which were new moves introduced in this generation. There remained 50 TMs, as some Generation I TMs were removed. Several moves that were contained in TMs in Generation II but were no longer contained within TMs during Generation III can be taught by a Move Tutor in Pokémon Emerald.

Generation III

In Generation III, more moves were introduced, and the TM list was again adjusted. The 50-TM limit remained, and several older moves became TMs—including some that lost their TM status between Generations I and II.

Generation IV

Due to connectivity with the Generation III games, the 50-TM list was not redone in Generation IV. To include new moves and incorporate older moves as TMs, the TM list was expanded from 50 to 92, leaving the first 50 TMs intact. With the eight HMs, the number of machine-learnable moves in Generation IV was at an even 100.

Generation V

In Generation V, TMs have changed from being single-use items to having unlimited uses, making them akin to HMs. In this generation only, when a Pokémon learns a move from a TM or HM by overwriting an old one, the new move takes on the current PP of the forgotten move. This prevents repeated usage of machines for the purpose of PP restoration. The prices of the purchasable TMs are also much higher to reflect the fact they can be reused, and they can no longer be held or sold. (However, they can be sold in Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity.) In Pokémon Black and White, there are 94 TMs available normally; among the ones numbered 92 and lower, many of them teach different moves from their Generation IV counterparts. With the number of HMs reduced to six, there are once again an even 100 machine-learnable moves. In Black 2 and White 2, the previously undistributed event-only TM95 was made normally available, bringing the number of machine-learnable moves in Generation V to 101.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, TMs continued to be multiple-use items. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, however, has both types of TMs, where regular ones can only be used once, and rainbow colored ones have infinite use, and all HMs are TMs instead. Most TMs contained the same moves that they did in Generation V, with the exceptions of TM19, TM51, TM83, and TM88. Five more TMs were added, bringing the number of TMs up to an even 100. As there are only five HM moves in Generation VI, there are now 105 machine-learnable moves. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, two more HMs were added. Additionally, TM94 (Rock Smash) in X and Y was changed to Secret Power to reflect the fact that Rock Smash was an HM once again. This is the only time a TM has changed in the middle of a generation. As a result, there are now 107 machine-learnable moves.

Incompatible Pokémon

Although most Pokémon are able to learn a wide range of TM moves, there are 22 Pokémon who cannot learn any outside of their natural level-up moveset. Typically, these Pokémon are low in their evolutionary line or rely on a set moveset. Starting in Generation VI, several of these Pokémon that were able to learn TM moves by leveling up are now able to learn the moves through TM as well.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, regular TMs are one-use only and disappear after being used, while rarer rainbow-colored TMs can be used infinitely. Rainbow-colored TMs can be bought from Kecleon shops from certain post-game dungeons, and can also be bought from Kecleon shops in towns after Kecleon has been recruited, which unlocks the "Treasures" section in the shop.

Artwork

TM

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, there are two kinds of TMs: Fast TMs and Charged TMs. TMs were introduced to Pokémon GO on June 22, 2017.

Using a Fast or Charged TM on a Pokémon randomly changes its Fast or Charge move (respectively) to a different move in the Pokémon's current move pool. Moves that no longer available to the Pokémon, such as Dazzling Gleam for Alakazam, are not possible.

If a Pokémon only has one possible Fast or Charge move, the player will not be able to use a respective TM on it. TMs also cannot be used on Smeargle.

In the TCG

Technical MachinesCards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.

Prior to Generation III, TMs given out by the starting region's Gym Leaders teach moves that no Pokémon learns naturally. There is one exception: in Pokémon Yellow, Pikachu learns Thunderbolt in place of Swift.